Things to See and Do in Koh Samui

It is always good to see the main things you want to see at the beginning of your holiday for several reasons:

You may need to come back to see something if you miss it the first time.

Take advantage of the weather if it is good - it may be raining later in the week.

If you happen to pick up a tummy bug later in the week you will need to rest.

The relaxing part of your holiday is better at the end - before you go home.

You may run out of time and end up missing something you really wanted to see....

​Some of the main things to visit while Koh Samui include:

The Big Buddha

Situated on the northern coast of Koh Samui is the famous Buddha Shrine.The shrine consists of the 12 metre high Buddha as well as other ornate Buddha images, a temple, a market selling souvenirs and lucky charms and food stalls.The Big Buddha is one of the most famous landmarks in Koh Samui and can be seen from several kilometres.​A few hundred steps will take you to the top of the platform where Buddha sits. ​Close by is The Big Buddha Beach where boats leave to visit Koh Phangan.

Hin Ta and Hin Ya (Grandpa and Grandma Rocks - Lamai beach

Witness for yourself the formations of these rocks! Quite clearly you will see the similarity of the rock formation to the male and female genitalia. Walking up to the ocean from the car park you will pass lots of little market stalls selling coconuts and items made from coconuts as well as souvenirs.From the rocks there is a stunning view out to the other islands and on the beach close by an original Thai village. There are plenty of great photo opportunities here and the locals will often tell you how to pose to get the best shots.

Waterfalls and Village

There are several waterfalls to visit in Koh Samui. My advice would be to choose the ones that best suit your mobility level. You will find some involve a rugged hike up a mountain over a lengthy time frame and there is another that is suitable for those not so energetic or not physically capable. Regardless of which waterfall you visit, they are all beautiful. Cascading into to a swimming hole below it’s a great place to cool off on a hot day. ​Be guided by your tour guide or a local.

Mummified Monk - South of Lamai

This was an amazing experience!There are several mummified monks in Thailand but the most famous is the body of Loung Por Daeng (pictured right) that is on display in Koh Samui.​Loung Por Daeng was a Buddhist monk who died in 1972 while meditating. He requested that his body was placed in a specially designed glass case for posterity and it has been at the Wat Khunaram Temple ever since.The amazing part is that the body has shown very little sign of decay and the hair and fingernails continue to grow. Our guide told us that they often have to open the case and cut his hair and fingernails. This remarkable preservation is said to be due to his simple diet that he followed and his marathon meditation sessions which is said to have slowed down his metabolism. I was given the opportunity to participate in a spiritual experience where you kneel in front of the monk’s glass case, shake a container with sticks until one stick falls out. This stick has a number on it that you can exchange for a piece of paper that will give you a reading. There is a monk present that will bless you with holy water and tie a piece of string around your wrist. This is very lucky and you should try to keep this on as long as possible.​It was a very moving experience

Elephant Trekking

For me this was the highlight of our tour in Koh Samui - elephants are my favorite animal and riding on one something that was always on my bucket list.There are many elephant trekking places in Koh Samui as it is a big part of the tourist industry. It is fabulous to see and even better to be participating in. Usually two people sit on the seat behind the trainer. The elephants move over rugged terrain through jungle areas and across streams. About half way through our trek our trainer asked me if I’d like to sit up front, right on top of the elephant’s head (where he was sitting). I jumped at the opportunity and he got off the elephant and directed him from the ground. The trainer took photos for us while I was riding the elephant. I was able to feel the elephant’s skin and touch her, it was awesome. The funniest thing happened, my husband's water bottle dropped out of his back pack and the elephant behind picked it up with it’s trunk and gave it to his trainer. Close to the finish of the ride the trainers will ask you for a tip, 200baht, but that is optional. I was so excited about my experience I was happy to give him a tip. You can also pay a few baht to feed the elephant bananas. We were told that the elephants are like family to them. Our trainer had one elephant for 10 years and one for 8 years. What beautiful creatures they are.

The Tiger Photo

Just beside the elephant trekking there is a Tiger photo opportunity.There were three tigers - a baby, a medium one and a VERY large one. Paul had his photo taken with the LARGE one, which was lying on a platform with a chain attached.The tiger was so docile that we became suspicious that it was drugged, which is VERY disturbing (I hope we are wrong and it was just REALLY tame or well fed and resting through the heat of the day. ​To be this close to such a wonderful creature was a very memorable experience.

The Lady Boy Cabaret Show

If you visit Thailand you HAVE to see at least one Ladyboy show. Thai people call them the third sex or Katoeys because they are more feminine than masculine. There are thousands of Ladyboys throughout Thailand and many have had the full sex change. There are several shows in Chaweng and if you are out at night you won't have trouble finding them - as you walk down the main street as they are usually in the street giving out flyers and attracting customers. It’s free to get in but beware you will pay about $10 for a drink. The show we saw went for about three quarters of an hour so you’ll probably only have one drink anyway. The set up is quite good with a proper stage and cinema style seating. Whether you go just out of curiosity or just for a bit of fun, it’s worth seeing.

Nikki Beach for Sunday brunch and Celebrating Life!

Situated on the west side of Koh Samui, Nikki Beach is known for its fabulous events, chic atmosphere with big couches, lounges by the pool, and loud party music.​The restaurant and food are high quality and cater for more of an upmarket crowd. Situated right on the beach, it is a perfect chill out location.However, few party-goers know the background to the world-wide Nikki Beach brand.Founder and owner Jack Penrod started his career flipping burgers at McDonald's and worked his way up the McDonald's chain before starting his own luxury brand.The first Nikki Beach Club opened in 1998 and there are now 14 outlets in some of the most popular holidays destinations in the Caribbean, France, Greece, Italy, Monaco, Spain, Turkey, UAE, the USA and of course Thailand.While Nikki Beach is famous for its all-white decor, top DJ's, international cuisine, amazing parties and for attracting leading figures in the arts, fashion and entertainment worlds, it also has a greater objective.Jack Penrod's daughter Nicole died in a car crash when she was 18, and the beach clubs were created in her honor with a philosophy of "Celebrate Life".So, if you call into Nikki Beach in Koh Samui or any other location, make sure to raise your glass to the memory of Nicole and enjoy your life.

Shopping

When shopping in Thailand it is important to remember one thing - BE POLITE!Smile and do not become angry, aggressive or rude because Thai people are VERY friendly, helpful and polite.So, while you enjoy your negotiating please accept that the Thai people are trying to run a business too and cannot give things away and make a loss. A little understanding goes a long way.

There are hundreds of street stalls throughout Koh Samui with offerings ranging from T shirts to handbags, shoes and souvenirs. Unfortunately many stalls simply offer the same sort of things over and over again. Of course nothing has a price on it, so it is “bargaining time”. Normally if you ask the price it will be massively inflated because Thai people expect to “negotiate” with you. My rule was offer half or just more than half of what the price was and judge the reaction. You will soon know where their cut off price is. If you are interested in buying more than one – it will be a lot cheaper.There is a shopping centre on the island that has regular shops and a department store as well as large supermarket. It was very difficult for us to find this out and it was a helpful cab driver (cab number 75, if you find him) that told us where to go. The shopping centre is called Big C, inland from the coast road, but not far in a cab.There are 7/11-style supermarkets everywhere and they also sell alcohol very cheap. ​

Tailors

There are lots of tailors who will be vying for your business - everything from business suits and shirts to wedding dresses are made here.Many people bring photographs of something they have seen either in a shop or a magazine and they can usually copy it pretty close to perfect. If you don’t know exactly what you want, don’t worry, they have plenty of books to look through to get some ideas.Prices range from tailor to tailor and of course the type of fabric you choose it going to make a difference too.​Many couples even travel to Koh Samui to have their wedding outfits custom-made and spend the savings on a nice holiday!If you are thinking about having some items made make sure you visit your tailor when you first get to Koh Samui to give them plenty of time to make your garments before you leave, especially if it is a busy time of year. You will need to be measured and go back for a fitting the following day. Usually it will take 2-5 days depending on what you are having made.When the tailor has your measurements they will usually keep these on file for you for one or two years and you can order more garments via email during that time.The tailor we used was excellent….. we had some business shirts made in Japanese cotton (they said they were the only shop in Koh Samui that had this fabric). It took it days and they were perfect.The place was called ‘Chaweng Boutique’ you can find them on the main street, opposite Chaweng Regent Beach Resort.

Anyone for a Massage or Pedicure?

If you go to Koh Samui you must have a full body massage at one of the dozens of services on the beaches and throughout the villages.You must also enjoy the unusual experience of having your feet cleaned and pampered……by hundreds of tiny fish.The tiny Garra Rufa fish – native to the hot springs of the Kengal Valley in Turkey - are known for their healing benefits and gently nibble the skin to stimulate, rejuvenate and improve the overall health of your skin through natural exfoliation. The fish have no teeth and simply nibble away at dead or flaking skin. Scientists say they secrete a therapeutic enzyme called dithranol that also improves your skin.Some of our group were a bit hesitant, and even felt the experience a bit ticklish initially, but once they relaxed they all reported a very calming and enjoyable experience.The fish remove excess dead surface cells, bacteria and calluses while cleaning and clearing the pores of the skin. We found it worked best of you ensure you wash any suntan lotions and mozzie repellents away first and even soak your feet for a few minutes.It is said the unique dithranol enzyme also reduces the over development of skin cells which eases and prevents the symptoms of many skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis; promotes blood circulations; stimulates acupuncture points (without needles) to relax the body and ease fatigue; and also improves the skin because of the natural exfoliation. Our group all enjoyed the experience and were certain our feet were not as rough after the fish had done their bit. Whether or not that was true, it was great fun and a chance to relax for 30 minutes before moving on to the next adventure.